KLA

In March 2024, Apple decided to cancel its microLED project to develop and produce its own wearable display. Apple started developing microLED displays for wearable devices years ago, first aiming to launch the first product in 2023. The project was delayed several times, as the cost of production for microLED displays was too high for Apple, to the point where it was suggested Apple's goal is to launch the first microLED watch in 2027. But that project was cancelled.

Apple's decision made many people pessimistic about microLED displays, especially in the near term. We already posted an article speculating how Apple's decision may affect the industry. And as we also know, Apple has several other active microLED projects still under development.

A twitter account (@Jukanlosreve) that is new but said to be reputable under a different username, now suggests that Apple indeed has not given up on microLEDs. Apple is still developing an AR headset based on microLED microdisplays, which it hopes to release in 2026. The company also still plans to release a microLED smartwatch in 2026.

Israeli-based display inspection developer InZiv has recently expanded its management team, as the company reports increased interest in its microLED inspection systems. Dr. Tali Hurvitz has joined InZiv as its new R&D manager, bringing with her years of experience in the flat panel display industry and in the technology sector in general.

Dr. Tali Hurvitz earned her BSc, MSc, and PhD from Tel Aviv University, where she focused on physics and materials science. She has held significant positions, including her latest role as the Head of the Physics, Materials, and Innovation group at KLA, and has previously worked in various capacities within the technology sector. Dr. Tali will now lead InZiv’s R&D as the company matures and expands its solution portfolio.

Hello Dr. Tali, we first of all want to wish you the best of luck at InZiv. What drew you initially to the field of physics and materials science? 

As long as I remember myself, I preferred technical toys (like LEGO) to social ones (like dolls…). When in middle school I was directed to participate in cooking classes, while the boys went to study electronics - I rebelled and joined the boys! It was inspiring to learn how simple and straightforward electricity was. It is either zero or one. That led to my studying electronics in high school. My plan was to continue to higher education in that field as well. However, before starting my first year I took a preparation course in Physics - and I was hooked, till this day. Understanding the physical laws around us and forming these laws in simple equation - it's like magic!

In February 2024, ams-Osram announced that it's cornerstone customer (Apple) cancelled its microLED project, which will have dire implications for Osram's own $850 million 8-inch microLED epiwafer factory in Malaysia. Back then ams-Osram estimated that it will have impairment charges of $650 to $900 million and it will also likely to cancel or delay some of its investments in Malaysia.

ams-Osram now announced its plans and strategy following Apple's decision to cancel its project. It seems as if the company has decided to pretty much withdraw from the microLED display market, and the only remaining microLED development efforts will focus on automotive lighting products. ams-Osram now believes that microLED displays will primarily play a role in several smaller applications that also will scale slower and later than previously expected. We also believe that microLED displays will take a longer time to mature than some in the industry have expected.

Last month Apple decided to cancel its microLED Watch project, which had very bad consequences for many microLED developers. Ams-Osram is still considering its options and it estimates its loss at $650-900 million, while Singapore-based electronics assembly solutions provider Kulicke & Soffa announced that it was also effected, to the tune of $110-130 million as it cancelled its own project with Apple.

KLA Corporation recently announced that it is withdrawing from the FPD market altogether. The company entered this market when it bought Israeli Orbotech for $3.4 billion, developer of inspection equipment for the semiconductor and display industries.